Texas Citrus Fiesta showcases citrus-themed apparel

Posted by Jayme Blaschke University News Service September 20, 2010

The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at Texas State University-San Marcos will present “From Field to Fantasy: The Art of Costume Produced for the Texas Citrus Fiesta” Thursday, Sept. 30 at 2 p.m. The free event, to be held in room 158 of the Family and Consumer Science Building on campus, will serve as an inauguration of the fashion merchandising program’s new Historic Textiles and Apparel Exhibition Gallery.

On display will be handmade costumes, crafted from dried, powdered and crystallized fruits and vegetables, which have been featured in the annual Texas Citrus Fiesta Product Costume Show. A reception featuring traditional mariachi music, folklorica dancers and citrus fruit will follow the exhibit.

Event organizers will trace the history and traditions of the Citrus Fiesta, an annual celebration of Texas’ citrus industry that started in 1932 in Mission, Texas. The costume exhibit will consist of past and current entries in the festival’s product show. In addition, costume makers will be on hand to demonstrate their techniques and show examples of their art.

The elaborate folk-art costumes have been part of the Citrus Fiesta since 1934, and have been featured in such publications as National Geographic, Southern Living and Texas Monthly, as well as in exhibitions around the country.

Also on view will be a collage featuring evening gowns of Marialice Shivers, former first lady of Texas and daughter of Texas citrus industry pioneer John Shary, as well as evening gowns worn by past winners of Queen Citriana, the top female title in the Citrus Fiesta’s royal court.

For more information, please contact Ann DuPont at (512) 245-2444, or via email at ad23@txstate.edu.